How long before my colour appointment do I need a patch test?

At least 48 hours before. Pop in at any point in the 48 hours ahead of your appointment. It is free, it takes about two minutes and you do not need to book.

Why do I need a patch test every time if I have had colour before?

An allergy is not a fixed thing you either have or do not have for life. Sensitisation builds with exposure, so you can sit in the same chair for years with no bother and then react. Pregnancy, new medication and tattoos can change how you respond too.

What does a hair dye patch test involve?

We mix a tiny amount of the colour we plan to use on you, dab it behind your ear or on the inner elbow, and leave it there. You go home and do not wash it off or cover it. If nothing has happened in 48 hours, you are clear.

What happens if I react to the patch test?

We will not put a permanent colour on you. Wash the site with cool water and a mild soap and tell us. There is often still something we can do, such as a semi permanent, a PPD free colour, or foils and a toner that sit away from the scalp.

Can I still get my hair coloured if I am allergic to hair dye?

Often yes, though not with a permanent tint. A semi permanent or PPD free colour may suit, and foils and balayage sit away from the scalp. The toner afterwards still needs its own patch test.

Why we patch test everyone, every time

Tasha Meyerhoff
7 days ago
4 min read

We patch test every colour client before every colour appointment, with no exceptions. A hair dye patch test is a small dab of the colour behind your ear, applied at least 48 hours ahead, and it is the one rule in this salon I will not bend. Regulars included. Brides included. I have turned away women I have coloured for ten years because they could not get in for the test, and I would do it again tomorrow.

The short version

- A patch test is a small dab of colour behind your ear or inner elbow.

- It goes on at least 48 hours before your colour appointment.

- Every client, every colour visit. Allergies can develop at any point.

- No test, no colour. That is a rule here, not a preference.

- It is free and takes about two minutes.

What a hair dye patch test actually is

We mix a tiny amount of the colour we are planning to use on you, dab it behind your ear or on the inner elbow, and leave it there. You go home. You do not wash it off, cover it with a plaster or scrub at it. If nothing has happened in 48 hours, you are clear.

What we are watching for is a reaction to the dye itself. The usual culprit is PPD, a chemical that sits in most permanent colours. The NHS lists hair dye among the cosmetic ingredients that cause allergic contact dermatitis, alongside preservatives and fragrances. A mild reaction is itching, redness, a raised patch about the size of a five pence piece. It can be a good deal worse than that, which is exactly why we try it on a bit of skin behind your ear rather than on your whole scalp.

If you notice anything at all, ring us on 01582 730381 and we will move your appointment. No debate, no cancellation charge.

Why we repeat it before every visit

This is the bit clients push back on. You had a test in March, you had your colour in May, why are we asking again in August.

An allergy is not a fixed thing you either have or do not have for life. You can sit in the same chair having the same tint for years with no bother, then react. Sensitisation builds with exposure, so every time your skin meets the chemical the odds shift slightly. The women who have been colouring for twenty years are the ones I think about more than the first timers.

Your body changes too. Pregnancy, a new course of medication, a black ink tattoo, a henna tattoo picked up on holiday, all of it can alter how you respond. We cannot see any of that from behind the chair. So we test, and then we test again.

What happens if you react

Most reactions we see are small and settle in a day or two. Wash the site with cool water and a mild soap, keep it dry, and tell us. We will not put a permanent colour on you after a positive test, and no amount of asking nicely will change that.

That does not automatically end your appointment. Depending on what showed up, there is often still something we can do. A semi permanent or a PPD free colour may suit. Foils and balayage sit away from the scalp, which changes the picture, though the toner that follows still needs its own test. Plenty of clients move to a lightening and toner routine and prefer the result. A toner is £35 to £40, or £20 as an add on to another service, and a half head of foils runs £55 to £65.

If the reaction is bigger than mild, swelling around the eyes, blistering, anything that spreads, that is a call to your GP or 111 rather than to us.

Booking your patch test

Pop in at any point in the 48 hours before your appointment. We are open Tuesday and Wednesday 10 to 8, Thursday 10 to 6, Friday 10 to 3 and Saturday 10 to 4.30, closed Sunday and Monday. The late finish on a Tuesday or Wednesday is what most working clients use. You do not need an appointment for the test and there is no charge.

If you are booking a wedding or a big colour change, build the test into the plan early. For a bridal trial we test before the trial and again before the wedding day itself. Sabrina, Sheree and I all work to the same rule, so it makes no difference whose chair you are in.

Prices for every colour service are on our pricing list, and we take Klarna if you want to spread a bigger colour appointment across a few payments.

To book your colour, ring 01582 730381 or book online. We are at Shop 660, Jansel House, Hitchin Rd, Stopsley, Luton LU2 7XH. Get your test in on time and we will have you in the chair with a colour we already know your skin is happy with.